Echinacea Purpurea - sun hat

Echinacea Purpurea, generally known as a purple sun hat or red sun hat, belongs to the family of the Korbblütler (Asteraceae). This plant is at home in the eastern regions of North America and has acquired a reputation worldwide as one of the most popular and most common medicinal plants.

Botanical characteristics

Echinacea Purpurea is a persistent plant that can achieve up to 120 cm. It is characterized by its characteristic purple flower heads that have striking orange -red disc flowers in the middle and purple tongue flowers on the edge. The leaves are lanceolate and hairy while the stem is rough and branched. The roots of the plant are meaty and save valuable connections.

Distribution and Habitat

Echinacea Purpurea is native to the eastern United States and can be found in prairies, forests, open fields and in light forests. The plant prefers sunny to slightly shaded locations and is known for its adaptability to different soil types.

Medical importance

The purple sun hat is widely recognized for its medical properties. The roots, leaves and flowers of the plant contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkylamide and polysaccharides. These compounds have anti -inflammatory, immunestimulating and antioxidant properties. Echinacea Purpurea is used in naturopathy to treat a variety of symptoms, including colds, flu, infections and inflammation.

Scientific research

The medical use of Echinacea Purpurea has received intensive attention in scientific research in recent decades. Numerous studies have confirmed the immunestimulating properties of the plant. You can increase the activity of immune cells such as macrophages and T cells, which leads to an increased immune system. The active ingredients in Echinacea Purpurea can also stimulate the production of cytokines that play an important role in the regulation of the immune response.

Future applications

The research of Echinacea Purpurea is still at the beginning and there are potential future applications that are further examined. This includes the development of new immunotherapies, the use of cancer research and researching possible anti -inflammatory drugs.